A repatriation flight with over 200 passengers arrived in Tonga this afternoon from Auckland, New Zealand. Another flight is expected to arrive this evening from Brisbane, Australia with no passengers but will take out seasonal workers and others.
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Wednesday 30 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Heneli Manuofetoa (40) was sentenced today to another seven months imprisonment for possession of 0.1 gram of methamphetamine. He is currently serving time at Hu’atolitoli Prison for another drug offence.

Wednesday 30 June 2021
Austin-Texas, USA
Outside the rich-country bubble, the virus can spread, mutate, sicken, and kill. One obvious solution is to get the hoarded stockpile of vaccines into arms all around the world - but there have been only "paltry half-measures and insufficient gestures". For now, where this is heading is obvious. The US and Europe are offering crumbs, protecting their billionaires, their pharmaceutical lobbies, and their politicians’ campaign contributions. Meanwhile, China and Russia have other ideas – and the capacity to realize them. So, before too long, when the back of this pandemic is finally broken, the world will have fresh evidence about who is reliable and who is not. - By James K. Galbraith.
Tuesday 29 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An interim group, chaired by Tonga's Prime Minister, will manage Tonga’s Rugby League Affairs, until a rugby league governing body is established next year, confirmed the Prime Minister’s office today, 29 June.

Tuesday 29 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A Tongan student at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji has tested positive for the COVID-19. Positive cases are increasing in Fiji since its latest outbreak in April, prompting Tonga to postpone repatriation flights from Fiji.

Tuesday 29 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
By this morning, 1125 people had received their second dose of the Covid-19 Astra-Zeneca vaccine, since the second vaccination roll out started on June 24 in Nuku'alofa.

Tuesday 29 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Quarantine costs for Tongan repatriates will continue to be paid by the Tongan Government confirmed MEIDECC CEO Paula Ma’u. Plans for repatriated passengers to start paying for their quarantine from July have been sidelined for the time being.

Tuesday 29 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The repatriation flight to Tonga from Brisbane, scheduled on 30 June, has been deferred due to the current COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney and parts of Queensland, MEIDECC stated today. However, the repatriation flight from New Zealand is still scheduled to arrive tomorrow, Wednesday, with about 240 passengers.

Monday 28 June 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Samoa’s Parliament is to meet in seven days, the Samoa Court of Appeal ordered this afternoon. The court also declared that the political party commanding the majority of members of Parliament is the Faatuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) Party, which will form a government.
Monday 28 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The convicted Minister of Infrastructure and Tourism ‘Akosita Lavulavu (36) and her husband ’Etuate (62) will be sentenced on Friday, July 2 at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court.

Monday 28 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Kava Mone and Maikolo Mahe remain missing at sea in Foa, Ha'apai after they went fishing in a small aluminium boat on June 23. Searches over the weekend did not find anything.

Monday 28 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
HM King Tupou VI will attend a service at the Centennial Church to mark his official birthday on Sunday, July 4 in Nuku'alofa. Born on July 12, 1959 the King will be 62-years-old this year.

Monday 28 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's new Electronic Communications Abuse Offences Act aimed at addressing the problem of online abuse, comes into force on July 1.

Friday 25 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Six athletes, including USA based weightlifter, Kuinini Manumu’a, will represent Tonga at the Tokyo Olympics next month. By Eleanor Gee.

Friday 25 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A jury has found Sosaia Tū Maile (20) guilty of manslaughter in the death of Ned Samson Cook (67), the Salvation Army Team Leader, in Nuku'alofa in 2020.

Friday 25 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Seven people were arrested by Tonga Police after seizing illicit drugs, including 12.12 grams of methamphetamine and over $21,000 pa’anga at five different locations in Tongatapu.

Friday 25 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sione Pouono (20) was sentenced to five-years imprisonment for unlawful possession of illicit drugs and grievous bodily harm, when he severed another man's finger with a chopping knife at Lapaha. "Methamphetamine is a scourge to societies everywhere that has affected a great deal of harm and misery. The distribution and use of methamphetamine in Tonga is a significant government and community concern,” said the judge.

Friday 25 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Common Utilities Board accepted the resignation of board member John Paul Chapman, effective from the end of June, “with no cause or allegations against him or vice versa”, the Prime Minister's Office announced yesterday.

Thursday 24 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tongan athletes were thrilled to receive funding today, 24 June, to help them prepare for the Olympic Games to be held in Tokyo, Japan next month. Funding is provided by the Australian Government and delivered by the Australian Olympic Committee

Thursday 24 June 2021
Suva, Fiji
Fiji has 279 new cases, their highest daily case count so far, indicating widespread community transmission, said Fiji's Health and Medical Services Head of Health Protection, Dr Aalisha Sahukhan on June 23, reporting four new deaths. To date 45% of Fijians have received one dose of vaccines, and 5% have received a second dose.